A man has been disqualified from keeping birds after 69 chickens and cockerels were found living in poor conditions by the RSPCA.

Robert Morrison, 38, of Atchin Tan, Low Harker in Carlisle, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this week for sentencing in connection with a string of welfare offences. He was convicted on 16 December, following a three-day trial, of five offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

After being found guilty of three Section 4 offences of causing unnecessary suffering and two Section 9 offences of failing to meet the birds’ needs, magistrates sentenced him, on Thursday (14 January), to a 15-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation order. He was ordered to pay £1,500 costs and a victim surcharge of £90.

He was legally deprived of all of his birds, meaning they can now be rehomed by the RSPCA, and he was disqualified from keeping birds for seven years.

The RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) launched an investigation into Morrison in 2019 and found he was visiting an allotment in Glasson, Lancashire, to tend to a number of cockerels being kept there. In October (2019), the charity worked with Cumbria Police to execute three warrants at Morrison’s home, his vehicle and the allotment where he kept the birds, around a 40-minute drive from his address. He was arrested after officers found 69 birds - some emaciated and all being kept in filthy conditions - at the allotment site.

RSPCA SOU officer Kirsty Withnall, who investigated, said: “Many of the birds had inadequate access to food and water, and were being kept in completely unsuitable conditions; in wet, muddy, dirty runs and pens. Some of the birds were being kept in small, cramped spaces with no enrichment; they were pacing up and down and circling due to boredom.

“We found the dead bodies of birds hidden inside a blue bin while other remains were decomposing on a nearby rubbish tip. They’d been cast aside like rubbish.”

Morrison admitted ownership and responsibility for the birds. In mitigation, the court was told Morrison was of previous good character.

All of the birds were examined by a vet, seized by police either because they were suffering or their needs were not being met, and taken into the RSPCA’s care. One cockerel was taken to a local vet but, sadly, later died. The others - 17 hens and the remaining all cockerels - were taken into private boarding where they have remained while the investigation progressed.

A Cumbria Police spokesperson said: “We welcome the outcome of this investigation. This behaviour is unacceptable and we will continue to work in partnership with the RSPCA and other agencies to stop this type of unnecessary suffering.”

The charity already has homes lined up for some of the birds and the remaining hens and cockerels will also be available for adoption.

Visit the RSPCA’s Find A Pet search to see all of the birds currently available for rehoming and visit the website to find out more about keeping chickens as pets.